English under pressure to save European blushes

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WHEN the wealthy neighbour fails to get planning permission for a new project, there is invariably a degree of satisfaction among the less well-heeled in the locality. So it was last weekend that the failure of five of England’s six clubs to win their opening Heineken Cup matches caused a degree of mirth outside the country.

Coming in a week when battles were being fought off the field, as well, it was none too helpful. The existing agreement over the running of the European tournaments expires next year and representatives of the competing countries met in Dublin on Wednesday to